The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-11-26
sILAs wEcc's FRIENDS.
The Place Where Wooden Legs are
Made.
[sprincfleld Republican.l

[Springfeld Republican,
A broad, benevolent face, encircled with
white hair and beard. has the maker of arti-
fetal limbs in this city. The appearance of
ID. DeForest Douglass suggests man at
pc ace with the world and with himself, and
it would take a sharp observer to detect the
qualities of skilled mechanic which are la
tent in his eyes. Yet he has made Spring
field only less well known for artificial limbs
than for revolvers. and many a poor Turk
who has lost his leg by the one, now stumps
| about happy with a handsome substitute
made in this city. Thirty odd years ago Mr.
Douglass began business as carver and cab.
met maker at the corner of Auburn and
Main streets, in the house now occupied by
M. ID. Sleeper. He early saw that the carv-
ing business was being monopolized by the
large concerns, which could use machinery
leaving little opportunity for nice handi-
work, and so turned about for business in
which his skill could be put to account. See
ing one day poor, one-legged man stunning
up Main street, with one Of those clumsy ar
Tangements consisting Of stick with an iron
ferrule at the end, which Charles Dickens
had made famous in Sllas Wagg. the thought
came to him that here was demand to be
supplied, and after years Of experiment he
produced an article to suit him. 1t Is now
difficult to tell the difference between an art
ifcial limb and real one, under cover Of
trousers, so nicely are they adjusted, and, IL
the patient will only forget all about his mis-
fortune, and will walk right along as If he
we're professional pedestrian, no one can
notice the difference. There are men at work
on the railroad as brakemen and engineers
who have one artificial leg apiece. Mr..
Douglass remarks in this connection, that
there are very few handsome legs in the
world. There are many natural ones. but
very few are c0meley. And his authority
should be taken as conclusive. After vari-
GUS removals Mr.. Douglass built his present
dwelling house and coy little shop adjoin-
ing.
picated an artificial limb was the better. but
now 1t is usually held that the more simple
the arrangements the better. They are now
so simple in construction that the patient
can oil them himself and fix many Of the
adjustments If they get out Of order. When
a patient is in need OF Mr.. D0uglaSs's SER
vices, he first orders the stump to be tightly
bandaged to reduce the flesh, and this pro-
cess takes from fortnight co six weeks.
Fully a dozen measurements are taken of
the other leg and the stump. and while the
bandages are on, an artificial limb Is made
the patient to try on. He generally wears it
day, so that 1t shall get thoroughly tested
and Tilted. Then the trial leg is taken back
to the shop and the fine workmanship be-
gins.
Artificial limbs are made Of willow, which
is the best wood for the purpose known, on
account Of its lightness and strength and be-
cause it does not warp and finishes nicely.
The shaping of the leg Is done entirely by
the eye, aided by anatomical knowledge and
the few measurements that are taken. Mr.
Douglass mentions a peculiar fact in this
connection, He always visits the patient
when he can, but Of course he can not do
this when the unfortunate person lives In
California. So the same measurements are
taken and then sent to the maker. FIRE.
queptly he takes up the wood to begin work,
butdtterly fails to suit himself. He then
drops the task for time, and when he again
takes 1t up he seems to be transported to the
side of the patient and almost never fails to
make an exact counterpart Of the remaining
| limb. Mr.. Douglass states that heshas talked
with other artificial limb-makers and they
| relate the same experience. The foot OF the
| artificial leg Is hollow, and even the toes are
| carved with great exactness. They are
hinged to the rest of the foot and are con-
| nected with double spring which acts on
| the toes and foot alternately. This spring Is
| connected with string of sleeps gut which
| passes back to the foot, over small half
| pulley block in the heel, and is attached to an
| adjustable bar in the calf of the leg by a
steel wire with hook at the end. The 9th
/ er end Of the small bar is connected with the
| heel by two strings of cat-gut Of larger size,
| which are so stout that they can sustain the
i WClSnb Oh LUu. IL uotQ w W
| to pass the cat-gut through two holes In the
bottom of the foot, and then tie a simple
| knot But it was found that friction even OF
1,1OOo of an inch would cause the cat.gut TO
break in time, so Mr.. Douglass now passes
the cords into small hole in front OF the
| heel and there fastens them by steel ferrule
| In the centre of the half pulley block In the
| heel is small steel axle and the block Is
firmly fixed against small piece Of hickory.
The axle with the elasticity and the ad1usta-
Bile bar in the calf Of the leg allow the foot q
turn with the pliance of the real article. II
the amputation is below the knee the adjust
ment to the stumpis made by socket OF
soft leather lined with the finest buckskin
and is fastened to the stump by lacings
This socket is attached to the artificial leg:
with strong steel bars of the finest qualit,
running perpendicularly.
| If the amputation Is above the knee. tn'
socket is of wood instead of buckskin ana l.
fastened to the body by elastic straps, run
ming over the shoulders. The knee joint 1:
the finest piece Of workmanship In the leg
The connection of the artificial leg and thlgi
is sometimes made by cords Of thread run
ming up the leg and fastened to the thigh by
straps, but the objection to this method wa
that the threads would soon wear OUT 81
Mr. Douglass hit on an ingenious method o
his own. This consists OF a pllable strip o
steel running to bar in the lower end o
the artificial thigh and so the weight OF tn